Newly released research has revealed that the Harper government’s job creation record — put in historical perspective — is nothing to brag about. But its record of job creation for young people is undeniably dismal. Armine Yalnizyan writes:

Many of us are abundantly aware, as both parents and citizens, of how hard it is for young people to establish meaningful career paths these days. Part-time and contract work abounds, as do minimum wage jobs, despite the fact that we have a very educated population. Corporations continue to sit on record profits as . . . → Read More: Politics and its Discontents: Coffee Workers Unionizing

Actually, our former Prime Minister is more a legend in his own mind, but then, confronting harsh reality has never been one of Mr. Mulroney’s strong suits. His litigious past serves as ample testament to that fact.

We hear everyday about the grim prospects that our young people face – protracted periods of unemployment, underemployment and contract work have become the norm, rather than the exception, even for those with extensive education. Even going back to school to pursue graduate studies or certificate programs offers no guarantee of gainful employment. Indeed, . . . → Read More: Politics and its Discontents: Yet Another Failure of The Corporate Community

Judith Maxwell, former chair of the Economic Council of Canada, tells the Globe and Mail: “People over their forties in Canada have no idea what it’s like for a young person trying to find a pathway to adulthood right now.”

Yesterday, over at Northern Reflections, Owen Gray wrote a post entitled A Lost Generation, a reflection on the discouraging prospects our young people face in establishing themselves in gainful employment, and the fact that their plight does not seem to be a factor in the Harper regime’s decision-making.

While the Harper government touts its record for job creation, it never mentions youth unemployment. That’s because it focuses on its core constituency — baby boomers, like me, who have retired. For the Harperites, the young don’t matter. Indeed, they are a lost generation.